250 years...

 Nah, I'm not writing about that bunch of baloney.  

I wanted to brag a little bit about how well Mighty Girl Maki did over this boomy season.  I found some dog treats for anxiety, with catnip, chamomile and tryptophan, peanut butter flavor, one of her favorites.

We started a couple days before the big day, just one after mid day walk, and she was good with the occasional pops and a couple of big bangs.  

The big day started off with a thunderstorm, another thing she isn't fond of, so she had one that morning, another for the mid day treat, and then another at about 8:00 pm.  She was chill as she could be throughout the whole ordeal.  

Actually, because of that storm that came through, the fireworks in this town were rescheduled for last night.  It was the neighbors the night before that we could hear so clearly.  There were a few last night, but a special treat at 8:00 kept her pretty calm.  

The town I used to live in got some severe damage, uprooted trees and lots of limbs down at the park where the fireworks show is/was supposed to be.  It got cancelled, no reschedule date yet.  People lost power, and the roof of Young Son's deck caved in.  

My sister and I went thrifting a couple weeks ago, and made a stop at Hobby Lobby, where I found this material.  

I got enough to make two, this one has a bull applique, the other one has a pig...both faux leather, as well as the eyes.  

The other one is about finished, just gotta put the ears on.  Felt good to be doing some stitching and stuffing again!

(I didn't find anything at the thrift store, but a new Savers near me opening soon!  Squee!)

Maki got a new toy from Hobby Lobby, since she had to stay home with the boys that time.  Honestly, I don't really think she enjoys shopping all that much.  She's so cute everyone wants to pet her, but she's not really all that touchy feely with strangers. 

This is the first time in my life that I have a dog (and cats) that are completely mine, and something I have wanted as long as I have wanted to live alone! 

And Maki, she's such a good girl.  The very best thing I could have done for myself (and her).   

 

I bought this Miniature Rose a few weeks ago, didn't know what color it was going to be.  I am tickled that it is red, but I would have been just as tickled if it were yellow, or pink or whatever, I just love growing things.

Life at the Complex has been pretty peaceful, the guy in the green truck was hauling scrap from construction sites and filling the dumpsters here, but that was stopped.  He's been doing some crazy stuff, and the police know him by name. 

Having Maki has gotten me out of the house 3 times a day, and I have been visiting with a few neighbors, that's nice.  A couple of them don't have cars, I'm happy to run a couple errands now and then, no one has tried to take advantage, actually, usually it's me offering, no them asking, and that's quite different.

I ran the sweeper this morning, tidied all the way up, and doing some laundry this afternoon.  After 4 years I'm finally trying to get on a regular laundry schedule, rather than waiting until I have nothing left to wear...

Living, learning something every day, being kind, those are easy things to do and should come quite easily.

Play Nice!  xxoo 

Where in the World have I been?

 I've been right here, but not on social media very much.  

So let's catch up.  Greg and Brad are doing great!  Greg is still a jerk, but he's my jerk.  Brad is a miniature black panther.  He's so big!  Greg is big, but he has a tiny head. 

In September my nephew brought a new baby into this world, and unfortunately (for him) he had to rehome some of his pets.  Luckily for me (!) I was able to bring one of them home with me.  

Meet Mighty Girl Maki!

(She came with the name, Maki. 
 I believe it is an anime character, as my nephew does enjoy anime. 
She's a Chihuahua/Pug mix.  My little Chug. 
 

I did not know how much I needed this girl until she came to live with us...Greg, of course, was not as welcoming as Brad was, but it has been about 8 months, we/re all one big happy fam now.

I had a chance to move back to the town I was living in before, but turned it down.  It was another complex like this one.  My sister and I went to look at it, and there was a dumpster right in front of the building I'd be living in, that really soured the deal.  I like my windows open too much.  

Then I found out a whole bunch of things about it that I would dislike, like no assigned parking spaces, as well as not enough spaces period.  

I love where I am, I have made a couple friends, and have privacy...why would I leave.  I would, of course, if I was needed in that town, but it's a short drive from here to there.

So...since I brought Maki home, of course life completely changed.  Instead of being a hermit all winter, as I have winters past, we were out walking 3 times a day, every day.  Except after she was spayed, we took a week off.  She came here. timid and shy, skittish.  As of now she is brave, strong, still a little wary of strangers, and that's ok, I am, too.

That's all for now!  

Play Nice
xxoo

Misfits

 It's so funny sometimes, how this world works. 

Yesterday morning I was doing my morning chores, thinking about reorganizing my storage closet and what to do with my Misfits.  The Critters I've made that I didn't care for after I made them, or the ones that no one has shown any interest in...to clear the clutter for new ides, y'know.

Along comes my bonus boy, Mooney.  His grandma wants to buy some Critters from me to take to people in nursing homes and hospitals...boom, donating my Misfits,  

I love it.  My storage gets a little cleared out, Grandma Mooney gets to go out and spread some cheer using my creations, I couldn't be happier about the whole thing.

I've made a few Easter Critters...

Peeps

Gray Hare

Brown Hare

Eggbert

All of them, and a few more cutie patooties can be found in this cool shop!  Come take a look, and if you make and sell things, you might want to look into it, too. There might even be somewhere you can say I referred you, but either way, it's an easy site, so far has been great for me!  

I have been working on some large wood burnings the last couple of weeks.  Waiting for better weather to stain, gotta do it outside, y'know.

All is Well.

Play Nice!  xxoo

Well!

In my shower thoughts yesterday, the suggestion came up to be more regular with my blogging, so here I am.  I guess I owe an explanation for my absence...maybe not owe, but maybe just an explanation/update would be the better.

I got myself real busy in October.  I started posting a new Critter almost every day.  I found a new selling platform called Ko-fi and I really like it, it has a feature where I set the lowest price I will take, the purchaser has to ability to pay more if they choose to.  So far I've only had one person do that in a major way, which just happened to come in exactly when I needed a little extra.  I love how the Universe works like that.  

So, posting every day, sharing my posts...the new selling platform...it went off big for me!  I sold 9 Critters in one day!  Granted I am charging a third of what I should be selling them for, but what good are they just sitting here gathering dust?  I am happy to sell them, the extra cash comes in handy, I count each and every sale as a blessing!   

Anyway, all my daylight hours were spent on stitching and stuffing, and taking care of the boys every need and whimsy now and then, evenings were spent leaning back on a heating pad.  Oh my back sometimes.  I sold quite a few Critters at the end of 2024, like I said, a blessing.,  

This was one of my very favorites from 2024.

I keep getting a spam notice saying my FB page doesn't meet requirements or some kind of infraction, which makes my page ineligible for recommendations.  Pffft.  I just archived everything in my FB shop, can't even tag my products there anyway, so what's the point?  

This link should take you to my ko-fi shop.  

If not:  www.ko-fi.com

I've been enjoying creating posts for my critters at Canva.  I am thinking about taking the plunge and joining over there, they do have some nice graphics and elements for designing.

So there you are for now.  Go on by and take a look at my new shop if you have a couple minutes, you can follow me over there, too.  I'm still posting on FB and Insta.

The boys, Greg and Brad, are good.  Greg still has an attitude but I don't call him the "D" word (where he can hear me) anymore, because that just pisses him off.  Brad is a big black panther, that turns into a big glop of black goo when I try to move him from where he wants to be, which is usually on top of whatever it is I am working on at the time he feels he needs some attention.  

Good boy Greg

Big Boy Brad

(I built that from a kit with NO instructions!)  

Play Nice!  xxoo

Wow!

 Hey!  Remember that Maker's Market that I had a display in for a few months?  

Turns out that guy that runs the place, has been up to no good.  From what I can gather he's been getting a little friendly with  probably under age girls that come to his arcade (which is now in the same building as the Maker's Market).  Apparently someone came forward yesterday, and you know there are usually more than one.     

I am glad that I got out of there before this came to light.  I am so thankful that I will probably not run into him any time soon.  I knew he was immature, and looking back, I can see this being a possibility.  

This also makes me realize that I need to look at people a little more closely, instead of taking them at face value.  

On another note, I have been in contact with another venue, about 30 mins from here.  From what I hear it is quite busy and quite successful.  It's in a little artsy-fartsy area, with antique/flea market type stores.  They may have an opening in December, which would be a great place to be during Shopping Season.  

I have also been working on my listings, and if you follow Handmade by Cosmo  you've seen some of them already.  

This one is one of my new favorites.  I made this one out of faux suede, with the hand embroidered and appliqued swirl patch.  I love the look and the feel of it for sure.  

Doing these listings in this way is much quicker and allows me to be more creative, which I do enjoy.

Play Nice!  xsoo

P.S.  Greg and Brad are doing well.  

(Please read to the end.)

Tomorrow is my birthday, level 65!  

Because of attaining this milestone of life, at this moment I am stuck in a boggy mire of medical insurance,  Now I have medicare but I have to pay for it, applied for medicaid but for some reason the forms I filled out at the office were not turned in.  (The girl behind the glass doesn't care for me).  Had to reapply, which takes 90 days to be approved.  No doubt I will be approved, but until this situation is handled I am a couple hundred dollars short on my monthly "paycheck."  

When something like this happens, something that is completely out of my control but has everything to do with me, I tend to retreat back into myself a little bit, to ponder about the situation, and my possible ways to resolve it.  

I had my budget pretty well worked out, and was covered by insurance with no cost to me, so what I'm needing to do is find a way to supplement that couple hundred dollars back into my pocket.  It's not much, and honestly I can get by without it, but it's a "bare bones" existence.  I'm very familiar with this existence, only recently feeling that I was doing much better.  The amount of $$ in my bank account at the end of the month was bigger every month...so, I need to do something to bring that amount of money in to continue to move forward.  I don't want to stop, and I don't want to move backwards.

I applied for a job here in town, checked in on it this week, but haven't heard from anyone,  I'm sure my age could be a red flag, but trust me, I have plenty of life left.   

So...my point.  While I ponder, I stitch.  

The first of  these are not stuffed yet, stuffing comes tomorrow.  These will all be available next week.  If you want to dib one of them now, feel free!  I'm selling them for $5 each + $6 s/h.  Just a note, I believe I can get 2 in a box without the shipping going up.  

This one is made of faux leather, that looks like its been tooled.  The brown eyes and the inside of the ears are brown velvet.  Very textural.  

 

This one, too, is faux leather, in a woven look, in various shades of blue.  Beautiful blue eyes and inside of ears are a lighter blue felt.  Again quite a nice texture.

All wrapped up with a bow on top...this one is red velvet, with white felt eyes and ears.  The appliqued gift is an ivory colored felt with a green felt ribbon.

Almost Halloween!  Black felt with bright yellow felt cat shaped eyes, orange ears and appliqued pumpkin.  

This cutie in gold velvet with appliqued felt leaves.  The appliqued acorn is pleather and felt.  

(This one is stuffed)

And this crazy little one with the tuft of hair.  Pink and black and cute all over.

I hope you have read this far, because in re-reading this is sounds like I am trying to use your sympathy for my financial troubles to make a sale.  Not the case!  Not at all.

I only told you the part about the insurance because it was on my mind and I tend to just let my fingers fly.  It was/is not intended to try to get you to buy a Critter.  I mean, if that were the case I'd be asking more than $5 each, right?  I ponder, I stitch, and the Critters pile up, you know?  I'd much rather you have a little Handmade by Cosmo cutie perched somewhere in your home and/or office that brings a bit of joy to your day!   

Financially, I'll be fine.  Not to brag, but I have been landing on my feet for 64 years and 364 days so far, and I have no intention of stopping anytime soon.  

Play Nice!  

xxoo

Summer Stuff

 First, here's the obligatory, "Phew it's been so hot!" exclamation.  Get that out of the way, being Summer a person would expect this to happen, but for some reason it is announced multiple times a day.  

Yesterday and today, though, it's been so pleasant.  No A/C needed, which you know that tickles me.  

So, I took my display out of the Maker's Market, with no hard feelings on either side.  As it should be.

I have also drastically reduced my prices.  All my Critters, my Fairies, Folk and Imps are a mere $5 each, with a $6 s/h charge...

I have cleaned up my shop on FB, which for some reason was restricted exactly the day after I started cleaning it up.  I think it looks better, and I had some fun with the descriptions.  Oh, and it's unrestricted now.  No reason give for why it was, nor why it isn't.  So many glitches.

They are so much fun for me to make, and because I listened to some well intentioned advice, I had a lot of inventory here.  What fun is it to make something cool if it is just gonna sit in the closet?   

Being in the Maker's Market, I learned a little bit, and got a little exposure.  Just this week I was commissioned to make 3 small pink bunnies for a girl at the library.  They are going to be incentives for a reading program.  Hopefully they will use me for more projects in the future.  She had seen my display at the Market.  

While I was making the decision whether to leave the Market or not, I whipped up a few mini kitties.  They are going to be featured on my pages on FB and Instagram next week.  

    

 

You may wonder why I have so many (I had 90 in this house) Critters, there are a couple reasons.   

Busy hands are happy hands, and when I am pondering on things, I stitch.  I have been doing a LOT of pondering over the last couple years.  I had lots to ponder over, and thankfully, I am feeling more reconciled in myself than I have in a long, long time.  There's more about that "stuff" on another blog, if you are interested let me know.  Some of it's kinda personal, so I don't let just everyone see.  

So, if you aren't following me on FB and Insta, why not?  Probably the same reason I don't get any comments.  

It's all good.  Sometimes I just need to get some thoughts outta my head.  And maybe someday someone will read it.  I've stumbled on blogs before.  Remember "Stumble Upon?"  It used to mess my computer up, but I loved the random sites it led me to.  

Speaking of random, don't do Randonautica.  It looks scary.

Gonna have a fresh cuppa coffee, and wait for my sister to get here.  We're going to Hobby Lobby!  

Play Nice! xxoo

Handmade by Cosmo

PS, Greg and Brad and doing great.  Both had birthdays in June.  We had a big party.